The construction of Al Thumama Stadium has created further opportunity for 'harmonious' collaboration between Qatar and Turkey, according to one of the project leaders.

An outside view of Al Thumama Stadium

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) released design plans for the sixth proposed 2022 FIFA World Cup™ stadium on Sunday.

The project is a joint venture with Qatari contractor Al Jaber Engineering and Tekfen, Turkey's largest construction company, working together to build the venue by 2020.

Excavation works are currently ongoing at the site for the 40,000-seat stadium to allow the first concrete pouring to take place ahead of schedule.

For both contractors, the key to the success of this joint venture lies in the complementary capabilities of both companies.

Engineer Osama Hadid, CEO Al Jaber Engineering, said: "While we are familiar with the local market and have the largest fleet of equipment of any local contractor and a 12,000 employee workforce, Tekfen is a world-class contractor with specific experiences of designing and building FIFA compliant stadiums.

"Knowing that we are playing part of this massive undertaking of Qatar, makes us proud. As a Qatari company we're very happy to have been chosen and entrusted to deliver a venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

"For us, this also means that the world will be able to see what a Qatari contractor can deliver."

Al Jaber and Tekfen were selected as main contractors for Al Thumama Stadium in February 2017

The design of Al Thumama Stadium is based on the gahfiya headdress worn by men across the Arab world will. To make this design into a reality, Tekfen brings onto the table specific experience in structural steel prefabrication and installation that will be key to build the stadium's facade.

The Turkish construction giant is behind the construction of 80,000-seat Ataturk Olympic Stadium and most recently the 68,000-seat FIFA compliant Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan.

Speaking about the joint venture, Cahit Oklap, Chairman-Tekfen Construction, said: "We have joined our complementing forces in a very harmonious manner.

"The harmony is based on mutual respect of the partners is a very promising signal that this joint venture can undertake other challenging projects, and become a long-term solution for the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy."

At the site for the 40,000-seat stadium, the contractors have started earthwork and are continuing with the procurement supply chain activities.

The site offices where the project team have their headquarters have been completed and the first concrete is expected to be poured ahead of the approved schedule and continue on track during the whole duration of the project.